ESPN in the U.K. Turns Down Hardy vs. Lytle, but UFC has U.K. Fans Covered

The UFC had been trying feverishly to get this weekend’s UFC on Versus 5: Hardy vs. Lytle event televised by its U.K. television partner ESPN, but it appears that isn’t going to happen.

ESPN’s licensing agreement with the UFC doesn’t currently cover UFC on Versus events, and the two parties did not come to an alternate agreement. So British fans won’t be watching one of their own, Dan Hardy, fight on ESPN.

Fear not U.K. UFC fans; there is a fallback plan.

The Hardy vs. Lytle fight will stream live on UFC.tv for fans in the U.K.

“We regret ESPN has declined to license fight, which falls outside their current agreement, so Hardy fight will be free and live on UFC.tv,” the promotion tweeted on Thursday via its UFC_UK Twitter account.

The main card will stream on UFC.tv and all eight preliminary bouts, as previously announced, will stream live on the UFC’s Facebook page.